Alyda Bernadette Sperring

1921 - 2014

Alyda Bernadette Sperring passed away on December 20, 2014 at the age of 93 after a short illness, surrounded by her family. She was born on September 8, 1921 in Sonoma, California and graduated from Sonoma Valley High in 1939. It was in high school where she met the love of her life, Alvar (""Al"") Sperring, who she would later marry. Her husband passed away earlier this year, as they were about to celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary.
Alyda was preceded in death by her parents, Atillio Picchi and Erminia Maffei, and a brother, Louis Picchi. Her father emigrated from Italy at age 18, opening up a grocery on the historic square in Sonoma. Alyda would work alongside her father as a child helping in the store. She would marry her husband, Al, in May 1944, months before he would leave for Honolulu to serve as a bomber pilot in World War II. After the War, she began raising their family in San Francisco, while working as an auditor for the Guaranty Insurance Company, until moving to Lodi in 1952. Once in Lodi, she was active in various civic organizations and charities, including the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, the Marc Club, Vintage Doll Club of Lodi, Circa '79 Antique Club, Lodi Emblem Club, the Wednesday Club, Woodbridge Golf & Country Club, Lodi Memorial Hospital Foundation, and St. Anne's Church. Being a product of an early Sonoma family, she also spent much of her time there with family and friends. And as the matriarch of a family of four sons, six grandsons, and eight great grandchildren, she took great pride in gathering them together and showed immense interest and provided support in each of their lives.
Outside of her love of her family and her Catholic faith, she was most happy collecting antiques, gardening, traveling, reading, and playing bridge with friends.
Alyda is survived by her brother, Walter Picchi and her sister Vivian Spencer Sharpe, both of Sonoma, four sons and three daughter-in-laws, Roger (Beth) Sperring, Robert (Lana) Sperring, Ronald Sperring, and Randall (Jana) Sperring. Six grandsons - Jon, Tom, Dan, Jayme, Trey, and Colin Sperring, also survive her. Alyda also leaves behind six great granddaughters and two great grandsons, plus multiple nieces and nephews.
A mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, December 29, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Anne's Catholic Church, located at 215 W. Walnut Street in Lodi. A rosary service will be on Sunday, December 28, 2014, at 7:00 p.m. at the Lodi Funeral Home, 725 South Fairmont Avenue in Lodi. A private burial will follow at Sonoma Mountain Cemetery.
The family would also like to express its sincere appreciation and thanks to one of Alyda's dearest friends, Joy Holm, who has been her neighbor, walking partner, companion, and ""guardian angel"" during the past thirty plus years. We can never repay you.
In lieu of flowers, her family requests contributions should be made to a favorite charity in Alyda's honor.
Lodi Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.